"Sports betting is everywhere you look. Whether it’s on billboards, social media, or commercials—it’s impossible to escape. But is sports betting really a low-risk fun way to watch sports, or is it something much worse?" --Rafi Ponet, 8th Grade
Sports betting is everywhere you look. Whether it’s on billboards, social media, or commercials—it’s impossible to escape. But is sports betting really a low-risk fun way to watch sports, or is it something much worse?
In 2018, sports gambling became legalized in some states, including New Jersey, Mississippi, and Delaware. Every year it seems as if more and more states are unbanning sports betting as it grows more popular. Sports betting has become very mainstream and prominent on social media. Now even the NBA is advertising sports betting during games. This makes it easier than ever to bet on sports, which means it’s easier than ever to get addicted to it.
“Sports betting addiction can harm one’s physical and psychological health. Individuals may experience stress-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, the act of sports betting and gambling can cause serious mood fluctuations depending on the outcome,” The Addiction Center stated.
Now about “70% of people attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings cite sports betting as their primary form of gambling,” according to Gitnux.
Also 15% of sports bettors are addicted or known as Problem Gamblers.
This means that an innocent $5 bet can lead to years of addiction. Now calls to gambling helplines are filled with sports bettors who just can’t stop.
Isaiah Kahn, an 8th grader at Oakland School of the Arts (OSA) said, “I don’t think it[sports betting] should be advertised as much as it is because it’s definitely harmful,” Khan also said, “It seems as if [sports betting companies] sponsor every sports-related Youtuber ever.”
Kai Vejsada, an 8th grader at OSA, who shares Kahn’s worries about sports betting, said, “I think sports betting is a bad thing because the companies make more money then they lose.”
Both Kahn and Vejsada agree that sports betting being so mainstream and accessible is dangerous.
But what do the players who are being bet on think? Pascal Siakam is a forward for the Indiana Pacers and on an appearance on the Draymond Green show had this to say about it:
“That culture is the craziest thing to me because they will literally wish you death because they missed whatever they were betting on. I just want to say, I don’t like it, and stop messaging me about how you lost your parlay, I don’t care; I could care less. You could miss your parlay today, tomorrow, I could really care less. It doesn’t matter to me,” Siakam said.
Many other NBA players have talked about how fans heckle them. Now fans will boo players because their bet didn’t win. Kyrie Irving spoke about how “Gambling and sports betting have completely taken the purity and the fun away from the game at times..”
As far as the NFL goes, players are allowed to bet on other sports, but many have been caught betting on their own league, and even games they are playing in. This has caused some players to be fined and suspended, like Isaiah Rogers and Rashod Berry.
Still in the country's two biggest states, California and Texas, sports betting is not legal in any form. Though neither state seems to be changing this, if they were to legalize sports betting, we could see a boom like no other.
In 2018, sports gambling became legalized in some states, including New Jersey, Mississippi, and Delaware. Every year it seems as if more and more states are unbanning sports betting as it grows more popular. Sports betting has become very mainstream and prominent on social media. Now even the NBA is advertising sports betting during games. This makes it easier than ever to bet on sports, which means it’s easier than ever to get addicted to it.
“Sports betting addiction can harm one’s physical and psychological health. Individuals may experience stress-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, the act of sports betting and gambling can cause serious mood fluctuations depending on the outcome,” The Addiction Center stated.
Now about “70% of people attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings cite sports betting as their primary form of gambling,” according to Gitnux.
Also 15% of sports bettors are addicted or known as Problem Gamblers.
This means that an innocent $5 bet can lead to years of addiction. Now calls to gambling helplines are filled with sports bettors who just can’t stop.
Isaiah Kahn, an 8th grader at Oakland School of the Arts (OSA) said, “I don’t think it[sports betting] should be advertised as much as it is because it’s definitely harmful,” Khan also said, “It seems as if [sports betting companies] sponsor every sports-related Youtuber ever.”
Kai Vejsada, an 8th grader at OSA, who shares Kahn’s worries about sports betting, said, “I think sports betting is a bad thing because the companies make more money then they lose.”
Both Kahn and Vejsada agree that sports betting being so mainstream and accessible is dangerous.
But what do the players who are being bet on think? Pascal Siakam is a forward for the Indiana Pacers and on an appearance on the Draymond Green show had this to say about it:
“That culture is the craziest thing to me because they will literally wish you death because they missed whatever they were betting on. I just want to say, I don’t like it, and stop messaging me about how you lost your parlay, I don’t care; I could care less. You could miss your parlay today, tomorrow, I could really care less. It doesn’t matter to me,” Siakam said.
Many other NBA players have talked about how fans heckle them. Now fans will boo players because their bet didn’t win. Kyrie Irving spoke about how “Gambling and sports betting have completely taken the purity and the fun away from the game at times..”
As far as the NFL goes, players are allowed to bet on other sports, but many have been caught betting on their own league, and even games they are playing in. This has caused some players to be fined and suspended, like Isaiah Rogers and Rashod Berry.
Still in the country's two biggest states, California and Texas, sports betting is not legal in any form. Though neither state seems to be changing this, if they were to legalize sports betting, we could see a boom like no other.